Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Syrian President Bashar Assad at the Kremlin on Thursday, according to a video released by the Kremlin press service. The meeting addressed the increasing tensions in the Middle East, though specific details were not disclosed.
Putin expressed his concern over the escalating tensions in the region. “I am very interested in your opinion on how the situation in the region as a whole is developing,” Putin told Assad. “Unfortunately, there is a tendency towards escalation, we can see that. This also applies directly to Syria.”
Since September 2015, Russia has been conducting a military campaign in Syria, partnering with Iran to support Assad’s government against armed opposition groups and regain control over most of the country. Despite focusing most of its military resources on Ukraine, Russia maintains a military presence in Syria.
The meeting also considered the potential of organizing a Turkish-Syrian summit. Both leaders previously met in March 2023 to mark the anniversary of Syria’s 12-year uprising-turned-civil war, where Putin highlighted Russia’s role in stabilizing Syria.
Assad emphasized the importance of the current meeting, given the global and regional events. The Kremlin did not provide specific details about the discussions, but one possible topic was the restoration of diplomatic relations between Russia, Turkey, and Syria.
Russia, a strong supporter of Assad’s regime, has close ties with Turkey and has been advocating for the renewal of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Syria. The two nations severed ties in 2011 amidst mass protests and a violent crackdown in Syria, which led to the ongoing civil war. Turkey supports Syrian insurgent groups that oppose Assad, which has caused friction with Damascus.
In December 2022, Turkish, Syrian, and Russian defense ministers held talks in Moscow, marking the first ministerial-level meeting between Turkey and Syria since 2011. Russia also facilitated meetings between Syrian and Turkish officials last year.
Both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Assad have recently shown interest in restoring diplomatic ties. Last week, a Turkish newspaper reported that Erdogan would meet Assad in Moscow in August, but Turkish officials denied the report.
Earlier this month, Erdogan invited Assad to visit Turkey or to meet in a third country. However, Assad stated that normal relations would require Turkey to withdraw its troops from northern Syria and cease support for insurgent groups that Damascus labels as “terrorists.”
This high-level engagement underscores the ongoing efforts to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and seek stability amid rising tensions.
